IRFAN is a Bulgarian music band since 2001. The sound of IRFAN is an original electro-acoustic World Fusion influenced by the sacred and folk music traditions of Bulgaria, the Balkans, Persia, the Middle East, North Africa and India, as well as by the musical and spiritual heritage of Byzantium and Medieval Europe. The integrity of IRFAN’s sound bears the depths of an audio-archeology that explores the lost prehistoric universal human musical heritage within the layers of time. IRFAN is known for its extensive use of ethereal and mystic female vocals in addition to strong male vocals and choirs in combination with an assortment of traditional Bulgarian, Balkan, Oriental, Persian and Indian string, wind, key and percussive instruments woven into a delicate ambient electronic sound. The band’s name is borrowed from the Sufi’s terminology and means “gnosis”, “secret knowledge” or “revelation”. And indeed the music of IRFAN is an invitation for a mystical trip in and beyond time, a message, poetically extended in the language of the heart. Since 2003 IRFAN is a renowned artist of the French label “PRIKOSNOVENIE” with three released albums and several movie and theatrical soundtracks so far. Over the last decade IRFAN toured with great success across Europe (Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, The Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, etc.) and performed live at some of the main European Gothic, Neo Folk, Medieval and World Music festivals and events.

The Eternal Return is the outstanding third official album from the renowned Bulgarian band IRFAN – the top selling artist on Prikosnovenie. You will find out, that the long wait was worth it and you’ll LOVE ‘The Eternal Return’! The new masterpiece counts 10 titles, that travel from the Sahara desert, to the Siberian steppes via the Gardens of Jerusalem and even the mystical worlds of Hildegarde Von Bingen.

The flutes are hypnotic and the voices transcendental. Transcendence is all across the album, together with the theme of the eternal return, return to our original source, the Garden of Eden. The male/female duo unavoidably reminds of Dead Can Dance; and as a logical step, on the new album Irfan adapt “Salamander” from the album “Toward the within”. ‘The Eternal Return’ is Mystical – Dreamlike – Romantic and touched by divine grace, all at once! The quintet gathers the Earth, the Sky, the fire and water in a kind of modern liturgy that honors the past, the Egyptian, the medieval and the Christian cultures. This journey, through numerous oriental instruments such as oud, santoor, psalterion, daf, bodhran, duduk, ney, kaval… elevates the listener to the level of Life’s mystery.

May Irfan’s music allow you to dream, dance, sing and see beyond the veil of illusions to taste the beauty of now / the present moment. Musical references of this album draw from Dead Can Dance, Azam Ali Niyaz, Hildegard Von Bingen… and far beyond! projekt